Christopher Erb

On this day 11 June 1810, Christopher Erb, my 7th great-grandfather, died in Carroll County, Maryland.

Born in 1748, Christopher Erb was the son of Swiss immigrants Peter Erb and Maria Lowis.

Chapline Family Forebearers

On this day, 5 June 1718, William Chapline II passed away. He was my 9th great-grandfather.

Born in 1659 in Calvert County, Maryland, William Chapline II was the son of Mary Hooper and William Chapline I.

Gateway Ancestor: Peter Worden

When tracing ancestors across the centuries, kin are often clustered together in a similar locations, an economic situation, or an ethnic identity.  A gateway ancestor is anyone with known or traceable ancestry from one specific group who marries into another group. Each immigrant from one country to another is a potential gateway, if his/her descendants can then trace his/her ancestry to the original country. Gateways can also occur when someone moves from one distinct social group into another or across distinct religious, economic, or racial barriers.

In the United States, however, the term “gateway ancestor” most commonly is used to refer to colonial immigrants whose ancestry can be traced in the Old World—specifically to gentry, nobility, or royalty.

Gateway Ancestor: Edward Foulke

When tracing ancestors across the centuries, kin are often clustered together in a similar locations, an economic situation, or an ethnic identity.  A gateway ancestor is anyone with known or traceable ancestry from one specific group who marries into another group. Each immigrant from one country to another is a potential gateway, if his/her descendants can then trace his/her ancestry to the original country. Gateways can also occur when someone moves from one distinct social group into another or across distinct religious, economic, or racial barriers.

In the United States, however, the term “gateway ancestor” most commonly is used to refer to colonial immigrants whose ancestry can be traced in the Old World—specifically to gentry, nobility, or royalty.

Sláinte to Our Irish & Scots-Irish Ancestors

 

Last week, many Americans celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, supping on Irish stew and soda bread or corned beef and cabbage, and raising a pint of Guinness or a dram of Jameson’s. (Heck, even non-Irish heritage people “became” Irish for the day!)

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 39.6 million Americans claim an Irish background (with another five million identifying with a Scots-Irish heritage.)  Wow! That is certainly a lot of people—nearly 15% of the American population!

Seeing the percentage of Americans who claim an Irish heritage, I wondered: How many of our ancestors were Irish?